Sunday Times apologise for Aizlewood’s “insensitive” comments

The sports editor of The Sunday Times broadsheet has apologised following offensive comments made by freelance journalist John Aizlewood, describing them as “insensitive”, in “bad taste” and believing they have “tarred” the newspaper.

Aizelwood’s particularly offensive comments came on the weekend following the Hillsborough anniversary when he wrote on his personal blog an article entitled “I see dead people”.

The Sunday Times’ sports editor, Alex Butler, wrote in a letter to This Is Anfield:

You will be aware that these comments were posted on his own blog and we have no control over them.

However, he is a long-standing freelance contributor to the sports section of The Sunday Times and I believe the paper has been tarred by association.

I have read the offending piece. The headline and comments were, I believe, insensitive and in bad taste and I can well understand why you and many others were offended by them. I have made my views known to John and I am glad to see that he has removed the entire article. I have also asked that he be aware of the responsibility he has as someone whose byline appears in the paper.

I would refer you to a piece Jonathan Northcroft wrote on Hillsborough which appeared in the sports section recently. That piece more accurately reflects the views of The Sunday Times.

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